"You can use this place as you please from now on. No one will come here."
Hashirama's voice was calm as he spoke to Kaede.
Kaede blinked in surprise. The training ground was massive, clearly built for the Hokage's personal use. But since Hashirama didn't need it himself, it was now his to train in freely.
At Hashirama's signal, Kaede began warming up, stretching his body and adjusting his breathing.
A quarter of an hour later, Hashirama beckoned him forward with a smile.
"Now, let's spar. Show me your strength."
The corner of Kaede's mouth twitched. Please, it's only been a few days since I started refining chakra, and we're already sparring?
But Hashirama had spoken, and there was no refusing his teacher.
If he was right, Hashirama probably wanted to see the limits of his bloodline ability.
The two took their positions across from each other. Hashirama stood casually, making no move to attack, clearly waiting for Kaede to begin.
Kaede drew a kunai from his tool pouch and took a deep breath. His deep blue eyes shimmered faintly.
[Eyes of Time - Activate]
[Eye of Time - Acceleration]
With the Eye of Time activated, Kaede's body moved instantly, his speed surging like a bolt of lightning.
Hashirama raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Fast. But that alone isn't enough."
Kaede already knew that. His hands blurred through seals, and in a puff of white smoke, three identical clones appeared beside him.
"The Clone Technique? You learned it that quickly? Impressive," Hashirama said, eyes gleaming in approval.
The illusion was nearly flawless. For a child his age, it was extraordinary.
Taking advantage of Hashirama's momentary distraction, all four Kaedes rushed forward, attacking in perfect sync.
But Hashirama simply sidestepped gracefully, moving as though strolling through a garden, not even bothering to counterattack.
"No, this won't do. You're holding back," Hashirama said, his tone deliberately taunting to test Kaede's composure.
Kaede ignored him. His eyes narrowed as he flicked his wrist, sending the kunai flying forward. Unfortunately, his aim was still poor, and the blade missed its mark completely.
"Hahaha, Kaede, you really need to practice your aim. That throw was awful!" Hashirama laughed without restraint, clearly amused.
Kaede's face stayed stoic, but a glimmer flashed in his eyes. In the next instant, his figure vanished.
A sharp metallic clang rang out. Hashirama's reflexes saved him just in time as he raised a kunai to block the sudden strike.
"This technique... the Flying Thunder God? Impossible! It's only been a few days!"
Even Hashirama looked surprised. Had he not been on guard, that attack might have landed.
"Teacher, please don't underestimate me," Kaede said, his tone calm but confident.
He flipped backward, using the momentum to propel himself high into the air.
[Eyes of Time - Deceleration]
In an instant, everything around him slowed to a crawl. Time itself thickened like syrup as Kaede descended from above, his kunai gleaming under the sunlight.
But the God of Shinobi was not someone so easily fooled.
Just as Kaede was about to strike, a large hand reached up and caught his wrist in midair.
Hashirama!
Kaede's eyes widened in disbelief. Even under deceleration... he can still move?
Hashirama gave him a playful wink before driving a powerful kick straight into his stomach.
Kaede plummeted from the sky, hitting the ground hard like a kite whose string had been cut.
He doubled over, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in pain. The impact was brutal—it felt like his organs had been rearranged.
As he gasped for air, a large shadow loomed over him.
Hashirama crouched beside him and patted his head roughly.
"Good boy. You really gave me a surprise. Not bad!"
Kaede forced a strained smile. His stomach still throbbed painfully.
"Ahem... teacher, you almost killed me with that kick."
Hashirama burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing through the empty field.
"Kaede, I'm truly glad you were born in Konoha and can grow up in peace," he said suddenly, his tone softening. "To live without fear of war, to enjoy a childhood free from bloodshed—this peace is what I've always dreamed of."
He paused, looking up at the blue sky.
"But even now, I can't shake the feeling that Konoha will face great changes soon. Maybe I'm just getting old, but... I can't stop worrying."
His voice carried both pride and melancholy.
Kaede fell silent. He knew his teacher's intuition was right.
After Hashirama's death, war would erupt again. Tobirama would die in battle, and the Third Hokage would rise to power.
At first, Sarutobi Hiruzen would lead Konoha wisely, ushering in an age of strength. But power corrupts, and Hiruzen's era would slowly rot from within.
White Fang would be driven to suicide. The Senju clan would fade into obscurity. The Uchiha clan would be massacred.
The two great founding clans of Konoha—both destroyed under the Third Hokage's reign.
The once-great village would decline, hollowed out by politics and betrayal, until its glory became little more than a memory.
Kaede clenched his fists quietly. Words of comfort felt meaningless in front of someone like Hashirama.
"Kaede," Hashirama said softly, bringing him back to reality. "Please... help me protect it. Watch over Konoha as it grows."
His voice was gentle, yet it carried the weight of a final wish.
Kaede opened his mouth to respond but could only nod firmly.
"Thank you," Hashirama said with a faint smile.
He looked thoughtful for a moment, then added, "Your bloodline ability is truly powerful. If the difference in strength weren't so vast, even I might not have broken free."
Kaede rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He really guessed it that easily... does every strong man have an intuition like this?
"But even though your ability is strong, you can't fully control it yet. Train harder," Hashirama advised. "Your bloodline power is unique—I can't teach you how to use it. You'll have to explore it yourself."
As he spoke, he formed a quick seal. A puff of white smoke appeared, revealing a large scroll nearly half a meter wide.
Kaede's eyes widened in shock.
That scroll—it was the record of all Konoha's forbidden techniques.
The Scroll of Seals.
"Teacher, this... this is against the rules," Kaede stammered, eyes twitching.
Hashirama smiled brightly, waving off his concern. "I'm the Hokage. Do I need permission to give my disciple a gift?"
Kaede pointed at himself, stunned. "Wait, is this... for me?"
"Of course," Hashirama said warmly. "It's a copy of the original. The real Scroll of Seals stays under guard, but this one is for you to study."
Kaede hesitated, then carefully accepted the scroll with both hands. Even though it was only a replica, it felt impossibly heavy.
To be entrusted with something like this—Konoha's greatest secrets—was a responsibility few could ever dream of.
And Hashirama had given it to him without hesitation.